Bangkok has gone from nowhere to number one. The Thai capital didn't even feature in last year's top 20, but in Condé Nast Traveller's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards it tops the table with a score of 97.68, edging out Paris (97.14) and Istanbul (96.67). Thousands of readers voted, and the results say a lot about where our travel appetites are heading.
Bangkok's appeal is obvious once you look at the line-up of what it packs in: the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew in its historic heart, the Reclining Buddha at nearby Wat Pho, street food stalls on every corner, and a steady supply of Michelin-starred restaurants and rooftop bars. Thailand more broadly is having a moment, and this result confirms it.
Valletta, last year's winner, slips to fifth with 95.76 — still an impressive showing for the Maltese capital, with its 500-year-old palazzos and honey-coloured alleys. Rome takes fourth (95.96), though readers are warned its headline sights like the Colosseum and Vatican City book up a month ahead in peak season. Paris comes second despite its unrivalled pull: the restored Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the boutiques of Le Marais keep it near the top.
Asia does well further down, too. Shanghai (95.19) rides its French Concession coffee culture and neon skyline into sixth; Tokyo (94.76) and Seoul (93.76) take seventh and eighth, with Seoul's star rising alongside K-pop's global popularity. Hong Kong climbs again to 14th, and Singapore is the first new entry in 20th place.
Europe dominates the middle of the table: Amsterdam (92.44) hosted the biggest World Pride to date in summer 2026; Stockholm, Vienna — fresh from hosting Eurovision — Lisbon, and Porto all make the cut. Jaipur is the one to watch, jumping in at 19 with a 27.6% rise in international arrivals in 2025. Cape Town (15th) remains the winter-sun pick for Brits thanks to its minimal time difference, and New York slips from 14th to 18th.
For holiday planners, this list is essentially a shortcut to cities that deliver on food, culture, hotels and atmosphere in equal measure. Bangkok, Istanbul and Rome top it for a reason — but Jaipur and Porto are the smart picks if you'd rather get there before everyone else does.
